FIMA Ch100: Able to Support

“Lao San, why are you and your wife closing the door in broad daylight?”

There was a knock on the wooden door, a series of ‘bang bang bang’ sounds.

Xie Yiyang stopped applying the cream, quickly stood up, and hid everything on the ground, along with the snakeskin bag, in the wardrobe, then signaled to Gu Siyuan, “You go open the door.”

Gu Siyuan, seeing his actions, shook his head helplessly, stood up with a cold face, and opened the door.

Mother Gu, Gu Lili, and the eldest son’s youngest son, Gu Dahe, were standing at the door. Seeing Gu Siyuan’s stern face, they were momentarily taken aback, feeling unfamiliar.

Gu Siyuan coldly asked, “What is it?”

Gu Lili was the first to react, smiling, “Third Brother, why close the door as soon as you get back? We’ve all missed you after not seeing you for so long.”

Gu Siyuan raised his eyes slightly, speaking indifferently, “It’s precisely because we haven’t seen each other for so long that my wife and I closed the door to do what needed to be done.”

“Ah…” Gu Lili didn’t quite catch on immediately.

Inside the room, Xie Yiyang heard this clearly and immediately blushed: “…”

What nonsense is that big fool Gu Lao San spouting?

At that moment, Mother Gu slapped Gu Siyuan’s arm, her voice cold, “Lao San, what nonsense are you spouting to your younger brother?”

The slap landed without any restraint, the sound causing everyone’s hearts to jolt.

Gu Siyuan frowned slightly.

Xie Yiyang, who was initially embarrassed and angry at Gu Siyuan’s babble, felt indignant seeing Gu Siyuan, who had brought him so many things, being bullied by Mother Gu.

He immediately raised his head and shouted angrily, “I say, younger brother is already an eighteen-year-old grown man, old enough to be married. Doesn’t he know what’s appropriate to ask and what’s not? Rushing over to inquire about his brother and sister-in-law’s private matters, and when Lao San responds, it’s suddenly his fault? Mother, you’re spoiling him too much!”

Gu Siyuan glanced at his little wife, feeling a bit protective. Next time, he’d bring him more good things.

Mother Gu became even angrier, glaring at Xie Yiyang, “What does this have to do with you? I haven’t even said anything about you yet. Lao San used to be so honest and well-behaved, and now he’s speaking without a filter. Isn’t this all because of you?”

Heh…

“Because of me?” Xie Yiyang was so furious that he laughed, standing up straight, “I’d like to take the blame if I could! But could I? What kind of family sends the groom out to do hard labor the day after the wedding for half a year without seeing anyone? He finally comes home today and tries to have a conversation with his wife, only to be interrogated by his mother, brother, and nephew. I, Xie Yiyang, have never seen such behavior. I’ll have to ask around the village if there’s any other family that does this!”

Mother Gu nearly fainted with anger, unable to find a retort, she could only point at Xie Yiyang and scold incoherently, “How did our Lao San end up marrying a wife like you? You’re lazy with work, eager at mealtime, always talking back, and causing chaos in the household every day!”

She turned to complain to Gu Siyuan, “Lao San, it’s good you’re back. Your wife…”

Gu Siyuan quietly avoided her hand, his gaze cold and direct, “Mother, is it really necessary to argue with my wife on the first day I return home?”

Mother Gu was momentarily stunned, then frowned, “Lao San, what do you mean?”

Gu Siyuan replied calmly, “I left the day after our wedding, leaving him alone, which was my fault. Mother, please don’t hold grudges over these trivial matters.”

“I… trivial matters…” Mother Gu couldn’t believe that her always obedient son would stand up to her for the sake of that little demon Xie Yiyang.

Gu Lili immediately disagreed, frowning and scolding lightly, “Third Brother, how can you speak to Mother like that? Have you lost your mind?”

Gu Siyuan’s eyes narrowed, his voice icy, “Gu Lili, I think you’ve lost your mind. I’m your brother, how dare you speak to me like that? Didn’t your studies teach you any respect?”

“…” Gu Lili was wide-eyed in shock.

His third brother had truly gone mad.

“Haha…” Xie Yiyang couldn’t help but laugh gleefully behind him.

Gu Lao San was much more interesting than he had imagined.

“Alright, you two are quite the team now, aren’t you? Not only are you talking back to me, but you’re also bullying your little brother…” Mother Gu shielded Gu Lili behind her, glaring at Gu Siyuan and Xie Yiyang as if she wanted to tear them apart.

The commotion was so loud that even those sitting in the courtyard heard it and called out to ask what was happening.

Mother Gu responded and was about to call her eldest son and husband to come and complain.

At that moment.

“Whistle!” “Whistle!” “Whistle!”

Several sharp whistles sounded from the village road, coming closer and closer.

Xie Yiyang pouted unhappily upon hearing it. Time had flown by too quickly.

After casting a few angry glares at Gu Siyuan, Mother Gu quickly turned to leave.

The whistles were the daily summons from the brigade leader, signaling it was time to go to the fields. Being late would result in a deduction of work points.

In an instant, the Gu family’s courtyard emptied, leaving only Gu Lili and the three children from the eldest household.

Gu Siyuan and Xie Yiyang headed to the fields together.

Yunxi Village, located in the south, was in the middle of rice planting season at the end of March. The Forward Production Team gathered under a big tree on the way to the paddy fields.

Team leader Zhou Jiandang had arrived early, holding a whistle and accompanied by the scorekeeper, ticking off names.

The Forward Production Team consisted of 23 households with over 140 people, but only 107 were working. The rest were either very young children, elderly unable to work, or exceptions like Gu Lili—though there were few like him, maybe one or two in the whole village.

When Zhou Jiandang reached Gu Siyuan, he greeted him warmly, “Hey, Siyuan, did you come back today?”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “Just got home at noon.”

Zhou Jiandang smiled, “Alright then, you can go fetch water with Jianguo and the others. You’re quick and strong, so I’ll give you six work points for the afternoon.”

Gu Siyuan replied, “Thank you, Team Leader.”

Zhou Jiandang shook his head, “No need to be polite.”

Then he continued checking the attendance.

After confirming everyone was present, the team leader led the group towards the paddy fields.

The men were responsible for fetching water and digging mud, while the gers and women sowed seeds and weeded.

Gu Siyuan, naturally strong, easily carried two buckets of water. While others were still on their first trip, he was already on his second.

Conveniently, the area he was fetching water for was right next to where Xie Yiyang was working.

A man fetching water with him teased, “We might only be able to do half the work Siyuan does, but his wife can only do half the work our wives do, haha…”

“That’s the way it should be. Birds of a feather flock together.”

Gu Siyuan watched as Xie Yiyang’s slender body bent intermittently, scattering rice seeds into the field, pulling out the remaining weeds that hadn’t been plowed over, and tossing them onto the nearby ridge.

In the vast field, he was the only one lagging far behind, with everyone else long having surpassed him.

What a fool.

By mid-afternoon, Gu Siyuan had finished watering the allotted area. He put down his water buckets and walked over to Xie Yiyang.

Feeling the shadow next to him, Xie Yiyang looked up curiously, “Why are you here?”

Gu Siyuan replied calmly, “Finished.”

“That fast?” Xie Yiyang’s eyes widened in surprise.

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained steady, “You take a rest, I’ll finish the rest of your work.”

Joy flickered in Xie Yiyang’s eyes, but he hesitated, “Carrying water is tiring, you…”

Gu Siyuan shook his head, “Not tired, it’s fine.”

Without waiting for a response, he bent down and began working.

Xie Yiyang sat on the ridge, staring at Gu Siyuan.

It was late March, and although it wasn’t summer yet, the weather was getting warmer each day. Most people working in the fields wore just a single layer of clothing.

Gu Siyuan, naturally strong and robust, had his clothes slightly damp with sweat, clinging tightly to his body. With each bend, the muscles on his shoulders, back, and arms flexed visibly.

Xie Yiyang couldn’t help but swallow, thinking to himself: This guy Gu Lao San, although he left me alone the day after our wedding, he now buys me gifts and helps me with my work… (*￣︶￣*) And he’s got a great body.

Hehe, starting today, I won’t be mad at him anymore.

But then, Xie Yiyang noticed that the women and gers working nearby were also sneaking glances at his husband, their eyes lingering before they exchanged knowing smiles, their cheeks slightly flushed.

“…” Xie Yiyang.

This bunch of shameless people.

Suddenly, Xie Yiyang felt a surge of energy. The farm work he usually detested didn’t seem so bad anymore.

Puffing up his cheeks, he jumped up from the ground and caught up with Gu Siyuan, huffing, “I’ll do the seeding, you go pull the weeds.”

As he spoke, he didn’t forget to glare viciously at the women and gers who had been looking over.

Hmph, don’t you know that Gu Siyuan is already married?

Despite some lingering old-fashioned beliefs favoring men over women, many people now believed that women and gers could hold up half the sky. They were all strong laborers and proud of their abilities, often feeling no less capable than men.

With their bold personalities, Xie Yiyang’s glares only made them laugh heartily instead of feeling ashamed.

Xie Yiyang was left speechless by this group and could only direct his cold gaze at Gu Siyuan, the supposed culprit.

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Why is the mission target suddenly upset?

Such a hard-to-understand person.

Although Xie Yiyang was a bit clumsy, he was relatively quick at seeding. By the end of the day, his efficiency almost matched Gu Siyuan’s weed-pulling.

As night fell, the team leader blew the whistle again from the field’s edge.

Everyone was relieved, standing up to stretch their backs and shoulders. The day’s work was finally over.

Gu Siyuan carried the water buckets back to the production team’s warehouse. These were communal property, and daily records were kept.

Xie Yiyang intended to head home, but recalling the glances those women and gers gave Gu Siyuan, he decided to follow him.

This prompted more teasing from the men, “Siyuan’s really got it good, his wife is so clingy.”

“Pretty and clingy, what a blessing!”

Gu Siyuan glanced at Xie Yiyang, thinking: He’s only here to complete the system’s mission, taking care of this mission target who happens to be his nominal wife, but this little one seems to have genuinely taken a liking to him.

Xie Yiyang, not one to be shy, noticed Gu Siyuan’s gaze and proudly raised an eyebrow.

His expression clearly said, “Do you realize how lucky you are? With such a pretty and clingy wife, you better cherish and care for me!”

Seeing him so full of spirit, Gu Siyuan’s heart softened slightly.

What a fool.

When the two returned to the Gu household, smoke was already rising from the kitchen chimney, and everyone was gathered around the large wooden table in the courtyard. Gu Lili was busy shelling peanuts.

It was still bright outside, saving on electricity costs.

Mother Gu and Sister-in-law Guo Yu were bringing out dishes from the kitchen.

Seeing the two enter together, Mother Gu’s expression soured. She slammed a bowl onto the table, “Taking a bucket to the brigade office requires two people? Haven’t seen each other in ages or what? There’s plenty of work waiting at home!”

Gu Siyuan pulled Xie Yiyang to sit by the table, glancing coldly at Mother Gu, “Newlyweds not seeing each other for a day feels like three years apart. Yangyang and I haven’t seen each other for half a year. While it’s not eight hundred years, by that calculation, it’s over five hundred.”

“…” Mother Gu.

What kind of nonsense is this?

“Haha…” Xie Yiyang leaned against Gu Siyuan’s back, laughing so hard his whole body shook.

His usually taciturn husband could certainly say things that were both infuriating and hilarious.

Father Gu glanced at Mother Gu, then at his now slightly more assertive third son, and knocked on the table, “Alright, let’s eat first!”

Everyone quickly grabbed their bowls and chopsticks.

In these times, eating your fill required some quick action.

Xie Yiyang was the most enthusiastic about eating, vigorously scooping from the sparse pot of mixed grain porridge, trying to get some of the thicker parts. He even scooped a bowl for Gu Siyuan.

Gu Siyuan took the bowl, glancing at his little wife, thinking: The mission target really likes him, treating him so well.

Mother Gu, upon seeing the scant amount of dry bits in the bowls of the two, became furious and started cursing.

“Such gluttons reincarnated from starving ghosts, scooping up all the solid bits so cleanly, leaving the rest to drink water. How did my Gu family end up with such ungrateful wolves? More eager to eat than to work a hundred times over…”

Xie Yiyang knew she was scolding him and Gu Lao San, so he raised his eyes and glanced at Mother Gu.

Then he turned and, using his chopsticks, tapped them together and repeated his old trick, coldly shouting at Gu Lili who sat opposite them, “Lili, didn’t you hear Mother? Your bowl is full of solids, and you want us who have worked all day to drink water? Are you a reincarnated ungrateful wolf?”

Anyway, if Mother Gu scolded him, he would scold Gu Lili.

Gu Lili, who was eating, was startled by the commotion.

He looked at Gu Siyuan, who was sitting beside Xie Yiyang with a blank expression, and recalling the events of the day, he deliberately tried to tattle, “Third Brother, look at Third Sister-in-law. When you’re not home, he bullies me like this.”

Gu Siyuan glanced at him and said calmly, “Your Third Sister-in-law is right. Those who don’t work should eat less. Isn’t that what Mother just meant?”

Gu Lili’s expression changed. Third Brother really wasn’t himself. He thought his anger during the day was because they had interrupted something, but now it seemed like he had completely changed.

Mother Gu, most fond of Gu Lili, saw his unhappy expression and quickly said to Gu Siyuan, “What nonsense are you talking about? Can your brother be the same? He has been blessed since he was a child, fair and tender. How can he be expected to do farm work like us?”

Xie Yiyang sneered, “What kind of blessing? If he was really blessed, wouldn’t the Gu family have ascended to heaven long ago? He’s fair and tender because Sister-in-law washes his feet, his eight-year-old niece washes his clothes, and his five-year-old nephew saves his own fruits for him. He is indeed blessed, but at the cost of everyone else’s suffering.”

Hearing this, Sister-in-law Guo Yu’s face couldn’t help but change.

When she first married in, she felt it was wrong, but since the whole family acted this way, what could she do?

Mother Gu was furious, “What nonsense, your sister-in-law and nephew like Lili. And Lili hasn’t settled down yet. He is still supported by your father and me. What’s wrong with that?”

Xie Yiyang chuckled and pretended to be serious, “Oh, in that case, I’m also alone and supported by our Lao San. Our Lao San works like two people. From now on, I’ll be like Gu Lili, not working and eating and dressing the best every day. Anyway, our Lao San can afford it.”

He then tugged at Gu Siyuan’s hand for support.

Gu Siyuan nodded calmly, “Alright, from now on, you can learn from Lili, stay at home, and get fairer. I like that. I’ll earn work points and money.”

“…” Xie Yiyang blushed.

How did a good argument turn into this?

Gu Lili was so angry he almost fell backward.

These two have no shame.

“Afford what?” Mother Gu slammed the table, “Trying to be special in this family, huh?”

Gu Siyuan looked at Mother Gu and said calmly, “You were the one who made Gu Lili special first. The problem isn’t scarcity, but inequality.”

“…” Mother Gu didn’t want to argue with the couple anymore.

Thinking of money, she remembered something important.

She tried to calm herself and asked Gu Siyuan, “I forgot to ask, where is your last month’s salary? And what was in the burlap sack you brought back? Your little brother said you promised to bring him snow cream. Did you remember?”

Gu Siyuan had been working on the outskirts of the county, earning 15 yuan a month. He used to send his salary back immediately through someone, but since he was coming home himself this time, he naturally kept it.

Luckily, he hadn’t handed it over, or he’d be penniless.

Xie Yiyang also stopped feeling embarrassed, secretly pouting.

If he’d known Gu Siyuan had money, he would have taken it earlier. Now, it might be taken by Mother Gu.

Gu Siyuan looked at Mother Gu coldly, “I used the salary.”

“Fifteen yuan, what do you need so much for?” Mother Gu’s face turned cold as she reached out, “Give it to me.”

Gu Siyuan ignored her and continued, “While working on the river, I met a driver who taught me how to drive and repair cars. I need the salary to buy a gift for him.”

Mother Gu’s eyes widened, “Why buy such an expensive gift? Learning to drive and repair cars, can you even learn that? Is that person tricking you?”

“It’s my own money. I can afford it and I’m willing to spend it.” Gu Siyuan said coldly.

“…” Mother Gu.

Is her son really possessed?

Gu Lili quickly asked, “Third Brother, you promised me you’d buy me snow cream with your earnings. Did you buy it?”

Gu Siyuan ignored him, focusing on his meal.

After the argument, how could he still have the nerve to ask?

Xie Yiyang, however, didn’t let it go, angrily glaring at Gu Lili, “What to buy? Where does your Third Brother have money to buy it? Didn’t he give all his salary to Mother? He even got scolded for spending a bit on a gift for his teacher. How could he have spare money for snow cream?”

Of course, buying for himself was a different matter.

Xie Yiyang was secretly pleased.

Seeing Xie Yiyang arguing so fiercely, Gu Siyuan kindly gave him some greens, “Eat.”

“…” Gu Lili.

Alright, now not only does Third Brother not care for him anymore, but the couple is also ganging up on him?

“Great, all learned to mock each other indirectly. Still want to eat? Both of you get out.” Mother Gu was extremely angry.

Gu Siyuan glanced at her, “Fine, just in time to go to the team leader to record our work points. I’ll also ask him to separate our work points and food rations. Starting tonight, we’ll live separately.”

“You’re dreaming! Thinking about splitting the family?” Mother Gu was furious.

Father Gu, who had been silently eating, also slammed the table: “Lao San, what nonsense are you talking about? Your mother and I are still here. Are you trying to drive us to our graves?”

Gu Siyuan glanced at them indifferently and said, “This has nothing to do with whether you’re here or not. The state supports married people separating from the main household to increase production enthusiasm. The idea of three generations living together, four generations under one roof, is a feudal patriarchal concept. You’re trying to revive old practices.”

Father and Mother Gu’s faces turned pale.

Gu Lao Da quickly tried to calm the situation, patting Gu Siyuan’s shoulder: “Lao San, our parents just can’t bear to be apart from us. Don’t say such things.”

Gu Siyuan remained silent.

But Xie Yiyang snorted: “Can’t bear to be apart? I haven’t noticed. What they can’t bear is losing our Lao San as free labor, supporting that so-called blessed brother. Big Brother and Sister-in-law, don’t you want to split the family?”

Gu Lao Da and Sister-in-law Guo Yu hesitated for a moment.

This hesitation made Father and Mother Gu even angrier. What did they mean by this?

..